Promoting Safety and Health

1. Promoting Safety and Health The Challenges of Human Resources Management

2. Chapter ObjectivesAfter studying this chapter, you should be able to Summarize the general provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). Describe the measures managers and employees can take to create a safe work environment. Identify ways to control and eliminate various on-the-job health hazards. Describe the programs organizations utilize to build better health among their workforces. Indicate the methods for coping with job stress. LEARNING OUTCOME 1 LEARNING OUTCOME 2 LEARNING OUTCOME 3 LEARNING OUTCOME 4 LEARNING OUTCOME 5

3. Safety and Health: It’s the Law • Consider these facts: • In 2009, 3.6 million private-sectors workers suffered work-related injuries and illnesses. • Back injuries, most of which occur because of improper lifting, are the nation’s no. 1 workplace safety problem. More than 1 million workers suffer back injuries each year. • Each year the cost of occupational injuries and illnesses totals more than $156 billion. • In 2009, 4,340 employees died from work accidents. • Ninety percent of fatal work injuries involve workers in private industry.

4. Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970 • General Provisions • To “assure the safety and health of America’s workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvements in workplace safety and health.” • OSHA’s Coverage • All nongovernmental employers and employees; state and local government employees

5. OSHA Provisions • OSHA Standards • Apply to general industry, maritime, construction, and agriculture • Cover the workplace, machinery and equipment, material, power sources, processing, protective clothing, first aid, and administrative requirements • Enforcement of the Act • The Secretary of Labor is authorized by the Act to conduct workplace inspections, to issue citations, and to impose penalties on employers. • Inspections are conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the Department of Labor.

6. Enforcing OSHA Standards • Workplace inspections • Citations and penalties • On-site consultations • Voluntary protection programs • Training and education

7. OSHA’s System of Inspection Priorities First Level Inspection of imminent danger situations Second Level Investigation of catastrophes, fatalities, and accidents that result in hospitalization of five or more employees Third Level Investigation of valid employee complaints of alleged violations of standards or of unsafe or unhealthful working conditions Special-emphasis inspections aimed at specific high-hazard industries, occupations, or substances that are injurious to health Fourth Level

8. Citations and Penalties Other-Than- Serious A violation that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but one unlikely to cause death or serious physical harm. OSHA may propose a penalty of up to $7,000 for each violation. Serious A violation where there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard. OSHA may propose a mandatory penalty of up to $7,000 for each violation. Willful A violation that the employer intentionally and knowingly commits, or a violation that the employer commits with plain indifference to the law. OSHA may propose penalties of up to $70,000 for each violation.

9. OSHA Consultation Assistance • Onsite Consultation • Cooperative Programs • Alliances • Strategic Partnership Programs (SPPs) • Voluntary Protection Programs (VPPs) • Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP)

11. What are my responsibilities under the OSHA Act? (cont.)

12. What are my responsibilities under the OSHA Act? (cont.)

13. Incident Rate • Incidence Rate • The number of injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time employees during a given year where 200,000 equals the base for 100 full-time workers who work forty hours a week, fifty weeks a year. • Incidence rate = Number of injuries and illnesses × 200,000Total hours worked by all employees during the period covered

14. Promoting a Safe Work Environment • Creating a Culture of Safety • Interviewing for Safety and Fitness-for-Duty Tests • The Key Role of the Supervisor • Proactive Safety Training Programs

15. Creating a Culture of Safety • Promoting Safety Awareness • The Key Role of the Supervisor • Communicating the need to work safely. • Proactive Safety Training Program • First aid, defensive driving, accident prevention techniques, hazardous materials, and emergency procedures. • Information Technology and Safety Awareness and Training • Enhanced delivery modes • Customization of training needs • Regulatory instruction • OSHA’s Web-based eTools

16. Creating a Culture of Safety (cont.) • Typical Safety Rules • Using proper safety devices • Using proper work procedures • Following good housekeeping practices • Complying with accident- and injury-reporting procedures • Wearing required safety clothing and equipment • Avoiding carelessness and horseplay

17. Enforcing Safety Rules • Ways to involve and engage employees in company safety programs….. • Jointly set safety standards with managers, • participate in safety training, • Help design and implement special safety training programs, • Establish safety incentives and rewards, and • Be involved in accident investigations.

18. An Example of an OSHA Quick Card

19. Investigating and Recording Accidents • Recordable Case • Any occupational death, illness, or injury to be recorded in the log (OSHA Form 300). • Recordable accidents include: death, days away from work, restricted work or transfer to another job, or medical treatment beyond first aid. • Other problems include loss of consciousness or diagnosis of a significant injury or illness by a healthcare professional.

21. Safety Hazards and Issues • Fatigue • Distracted Driving

22. Safety Hazards and Issues • Workplace Violence • Any physical assault, threatening behavior, or verbal abuse occurring in the work setting. It includes, but is not limited to, beatings, stabbings, suicides, shootings, rapes, near suicides, psychological traumas such as threats, obscene phone calls, an intimidating presence, and harassment of any nature such as being followed, sworn at, or shouted at. • According to OSHA, more than two million nonfatal workplace violence incidents are reported annually in the form of assaults, robberies, thefts, hostage takings, hijackings, rapes, and sexual attacks.

25. Safety Hazards and Issues (cont.) • Reducing Violence in the Workplace • Management commitment to and employee involvement in preventing acts of violence • Analyzing the workplace to uncover areas of potential violence • Preventing and controlling violence by designing safe workplaces and work practices • Providing violence prevention training throughout the organization • Evaluating violence program effectiveness

26. Safety Hazards and Issues (cont.) • Workplace Emergencies • Floods • Hurricanes • Tornadoes • Fires • Toxic gas releases • Chemical spills • Radiological accidents • Explosions • Civil disturbances and terrorism • OSHA requires companies to have emergency action plans to deal with incidents such as these.

27. Terrorism • To deter terrorist attacks: • Heighten ID checks and baggage screening • Increase video monitoring with threat-recognition software to back up human surveillance • Install blast-resistant glass to reduce casualties • Have offsite emergency offices • Tighten garage security with stepped-up inspections • Stagger deliveries to reduce truck traffic • Develop emergency evacuation procedures, including escape routes, emergency equipment, and gathering locations

28. Safety Hazards and Issues (cont.) • Crisis Management Teams • Composed of hourly and managerial employees • Work in conjunction with HR to conduct initial risk assessment surveys • Develop emergency action plans • Perform crisis intervention during emergency events • Mandate • Gather facts about threat • Decide if organization should intervene • Determine most appropriate method

30. Emergency Readiness Checklist (cont.)

31. Creating a Healthy Work Environment • Ergonomics • Health Hazards and Issues • Cumulative Trauma Disorders • Computer Workstation Issues • Visual difficulties • Muscular aches and pains • Job stress • Chemical Hazards • Smoking and Tobacco Smoke • Bloodborne Pathogens

33. Building Better Physical and Emotional Health among Employees • Wellness and Weight Issues • Job Stress and Burnout • High demand • High effort • Low control • Low reward • Depression • Alcoholism • Drug Abuse

34. Tips for Reducing Job-Related Stress

35. Drug Abuse • Federal antidrug initiatives include the following: • The Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, which requires federal contractors and recipients of federal grants to take specific steps to ensure a drug-free work environment. • Department of Defense (DOD) contract rules, which specify that employers entering into contracts with the DOD must agree to a clause certifying their intention to maintain a drug-free workplace. • Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, which require that employees whose jobs include safety- or security-related duties be tested for illegal drug use under DOT rules.

37. Key Terms • burnout • cumulative trauma disorders • depression • distress • eustress • Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) • recordable case • right-to-know laws • stress

38. Chapter 12 - Learning Outcomes